Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-11-04
Senator German on a New Constitution
PooIRsyrLIE, Nov. list. 1887:

| oOLESNlLLt, NOV. ISL, 1901.
Mr.. Editor III l had not previously
made up my mind to the fact that Consti.
tutiOnal Convention, at this time, was I'M
necessary and uncaled-for, would have
been forced to that conclusion by the shall
low and fallacious argument of Senator
German in favor ofsuch convention, made
at Rockville on last Saturday. Senator
German has been put forward to bring this
matter to the attention of the people, and
we must suppose that he speaks by the card
Let US examine his reasons.
1st He tells us, "whilst acknowledging
that under no possible circumstances can we
tax railroad property now exempted by
their charter, that under new Constitution
If these railroads desire any new legisla :
ton, which they do need every year, that
then we can compel them to give up their
exemption before giving the needful legis-
lation."
paid close attention to his speech, and
believe that quote correctly the substance
of his remarks.
Well now, is there single person in the
county who is not perfectly aware of the
fact that we can do that very thing-nay
more, that it has been done, and that under
our present Constitution the b. g. o. Rail-
road Company, by an agreement entered
| hheO WIN ttAC NtntCt thAOuSh lto ACSAoidbuiC,
agreed to pay definite amount of its gross
proceeds and receive therefor the cessation
of the capitation tax on its Washington
Branch. And these measures will be and
can be met at any time when you have an
honest, independent Legislature. In spite
of any and all constitutions these corpora
tions will get the better of you when you
have dishonest or dependent legislators.
I'd. He wants provision in a new Con-
stitution similar to the Pennsylvania ordi-
nance prohibiting the consolidation Of in
corporated companies" and tells you that in
that case Jay Gould would uot nov oIn the
BIS Q. telegraph lines
believe that In some cases such a pro-
vision would be gooi thing, but if we are
to trust the people, and l am willing to
trust them, cannot their agents tell these
corporations whenever they come knocking
at the doors of your Legislature for char
tered privileges, that they can only get them
| by inserting in their charters the proviso
that they shall not merge their privileges
without the consent of the State.
| 1t does not take the hideous spectre of Jay
Gould to make Democrats in Montgomery
and ask you in the name of common jus
tice if the b. 81 0. telegraph company did
not do just what you would have done and
what they ought TO have done? They had
an elephant on their hands, and the West
! ern Union company was the only company
able or willing to take it off their hands.
Democratic people must have preferred
sending their messages over the lines Of Jay
Gould, or else the b. & o telegraph would
have been paying concern, and consequent
ly not up for sale.
Be careful, acknowledgements. Do not
cenlound John X. Cowen with the b. & o..
railroad. Cowen deties the railroad and has
cast his lot with the Republicans. Garrett
and eleven of the thirteen directors OF this
railroad, including Ii. w. Talbot, of this
county, are with the Democratic organizl-
ton. This fact no man denies.
But the canal Oh, the raging canal =
He tells you that it has been charged that
he has or is about TO steal the 1870 miles of
canal and carry it bodily to Canada. This is
the old trick ofcarrying thing ad absurduml.
No one but German ever said it. What has
been said over and over again is that in the
Legislature, two years ago, when it was be-
ing declared on all sides that the "canal was
then wreck" that German and none of
his peculiar friends moved To its aid The
State has large interests, more than pecuni
airy, in its preservation. The railroad com
pany OF which German is director and a
large shareholder has u direct interest in
destroying II as waterway. All of his in =
fluence was exerted then To accomplish that
object, and he declares now that the ham
mer of the auctioneer is over the canal -
| Under our present Constitution you cannot
| sell it without the sanction Of the succeed
ing Legislature, and that provision is just
what they want to abolish. Charles Mar
shall, one of the most eminent lawyers of
this State, declares over his own signature
that they cannot sell this canal under any
terms in these repair bonds without the rat
ification of the Maryland Legislature. No
lawyer in the State has dared TO deny it,
But these people say, what are you going
to do with the canal? Now | am not fool
enough to believe that we are ever going TO
get any State aid for the canal even, as sug-
gested, by going in with our Eastern Shore
friends on the Oyster Navy business. There
is not man in the State to day who would
be willing To give dollar to the concern
after you leave Western Maryland.
What then? Ny answer is that it is my
| firm belief that this cvnal can and will pay
its runnng expenses if taken out of the
hands of our State politicians. Take out
the immense sums spent during his admin
istration by President German, in lengthen.
ing the locks, (which, as it turned out, WAS
money thrown away,) aud the canal has al
| ways paid its expenses until two years ago,
and il can and will do it again If those
charged with its conduct will try and keep
it a living concern instead Of continually
denouncing it as wreck.
| II, however, that cannot be done, let US
see to it, before giving up our canal, that ar.
engagements are made by which We will
have either water way from Williamsp0rt
or railroad along our borders in its stead.
| allnuu / 10. m of ham -
or your agents until that provision is made
strong and good. objected to the attempt
ed legislation OF two years ago, which Cor
man tells you was defeated by corporation
influences, but which had fer its opponents
such sterling Democrats as Edelin,, Colds
i borough, Lane and the lamented McKaig,
because with them asked that the precision
be PLACED in tie bond that we should have
something in place Of our canal II we gave
up our franchises. ] fear these corpora,
tons, but, as friend of the canal, fear
most this infant corporation controlled by
A. P German.
But he tells us, "Woe be to the Democrat
who votes against a Constitutional Conven-
toni am willing to appeal from Caesar
to the people. tell him that was Dem
ocrat when his politics were at least uncer-
tain that have labored in my humble
sphere as hard for my party and its princi-
piles, simply because loved them, as he has
done whilst receiving his $1,000 annually
for these many years, and that he can do
nothing less likely 10 strengthen himself OF
deter the Democrats of this county from
voting as they please than shouting "Woa
betide them" AS our Senator, give him
my full support as our bull-dozer, the full
measure OF my Indignation.
'-'.' A DEMOCRAT. =
County Grange. This organization me
at Perry's Hall. Potomac on Thursday o